Exotic Landscapes

Among the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ incredible collection of animals and plants, lies a seasoned team of horticulture professionals working to make the Florida tourist attraction a horticulture refuge for guests and animal residents alike.

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Powered by Cincopa Slideshow HTML for Business solution.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Exotic Landscapes&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A team of 13 horticulture professionals at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens work to create and maintain pleasing landscapes for guests and animals alike.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Chao Rodriguez, a horticulture technician II at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, leads a plant tour around the exhibit he currently works in, Range of the Jaguars. (FNGLA Photo - Kate Clary)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3892&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3024&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Members of the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens' horticulture teams break for a picture in front of one of the zoo's current exhibits. (FNGLA Photo - Kate Clary)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3912&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 2968&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Chao Rodriguez displays one of the plant varieties he maintains within the Range of the Jaguars exhibit at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. (FNGLA Photo - Kate Clary)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3432&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3020&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3760&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3016&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 4032&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3024&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3904&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 3024&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Chao Rodriguez displays a beloved orchid variety which the horticulture team maintains at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. (FNGLA Photo - Kate Clary)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;originaldate&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AM&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;width&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 2946&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;height&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 4002&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

The zoo’s horticulture department sees to it that
every inch of the zoo’s roughly 100 acres is well-pruned, and animal-approved.

“Zoo horticulture is a very specialized
profession,” Chris Dailey, the zoo’s horticulture manager, explained. “We’re
horticulturists working in the zoo environment to create and maintain habitats
for animals.”

This includes inside animal exhibits, Dailey
added.

“We work with the animal team to create and
maintain naturalistic habitats that are good for the animals, and at the same
time, engaging for our guests,” Dailey said.

The zoo’s horticulture team also maintains several specialty
gardens throughout the property. The gardens serve as connectors within the zoo,
and correlate with the geographic location the animals in that corresponding
exhibit originate from, Dailey said.

“We have an African grass garden, we have an
Asian bamboo garden, we have a tropical American garden, and these are all interconnected
with the animals,” Dailey said.

To keep their team prepared for the evolving
challenges that working in such a specialized environment invariably present,
Dailey explained that zoo horticulture officials began utilizing FNGLA
certifications around 2009 as both an education and advancement tool.

“The FCHP certification is key for us; we use it
regularly,” Dailey explained. “We show our new employees, ‘This is the
standard. This is what we expect you to do.’”

In order for the department’s entry level
horticulture technicians to move up to the next level after one year, one of
the requirements is they must become FNGLA Certified Horticulture
Professionals, Dailey said.

The bump in title from technician I to II also
comes with a 15 percent pay raise, according to Dailey.

Cheo Rodriguez, a horticulture technician II, has
been with the Jacksonville Zoo for the past four years.

“When I first got here, I basically knew just the
basics of the green industry,” Rodriguez said.

As part of his advancement to technician II two
years back, Rodriguez obtained his FCHP certification.

“It’s been a wonderful tool to use,” Rodriguez
added. “It’s an ever-changing experience here, but through the things that we
have learned through our qualifications, and getting our certifications, we are
given the tools where we can succeed.”

Rodriguez currently works in the Zoo’s Range of
the Jaguars exhibit where he helps to maintain a large variety of plant
material including seven different species of palms, salvias, monsterra, and
angel trumpets.

Dailey added that one of the ways employees can
move up to a senior position after three years is to obtain FNGLA’s FCLMT
certification.

“We wanted to develop a development program for
the horticulture staff – a way for them to gain knowledge, to evaluate their
performance, prove their value, and show their skills – and then be able to
elevate their pay, and give them a title,” explained Dailey. “Having that
certification kind of elevates their status - It elevates their status in the
horticulture community, and here at the zoo.”